ASV

American Standard VersionExposed!

By David J. Stewart

The American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible was first published in 1901. This mistranslation of the Bible is in the public domain, since its copyright has expired. Of course, this naturally led to the COPYRIGHTED sequel, the New American Standard Version. As a wise old preacher said, “there is nothing ‘new’ in fundamentalism.” The World English Bible (WEB) is an update of the American Standard Version that is still in the Public Domain, but uses more modern English. Compare the ASV, WEB or NASV to the Textus Receptus and you’ll find heresies galore.

I am writing this web page simply to warn you about the ASV bible, it has serious problems! I am going to share with you some of my observations about the American Standard Version of the Bible.

Colossians 1:16 in the King James Bible reads, “For by him were all things created…” Notice that ALL things were created BY the Lord Jesus Christ. If you’ll take a quick look at the ASV, you’ll find that “BY” has been changed to “IN.” This is no subtle difference. The Jehovah Witnesses false religion deny that Jesus is Almighty God, they believe that God created all things “IN” Christ; but not “BY” Christ Himself in His own Godhead power. It is a grave danger to translate this verse as the ASV has done. Jesus Christ is the Creator! Jesus was not created, but He did create all things. John 1;1-3 will affirm this! I am very leery of any publication that speaks of creation occurring “through” or “in” Christ. The issue is over the deity of Jesus Christ. As God Almighty, Jesus created ALL things by the very Word of His mouth (2nd Peter 3:5)!

The ASV attacks the Godhead by removing 1st John 5:7. The ASV reads, “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth.” The King James Bible (KJB) reads, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” Though the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible; the word “Godhead” most certainly is (see Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9).

Only the King James retains the CORRECT translation of 1st John 5:7. I bought a Textus Receptus years ago for about $80. The Textus Receptus (or “received text”) are the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts which the King James translators accepted as inspired by God. I looked in my Textus Receptus and was satisfied to find 1st John 5:7. Don’t let anyone tell you that 1st John 5:7 is not in the Greek, I’m looking at it in front of me!

James 5:16 in the ASV makes a horrible change. The ASV reads, “Confess therefore your sins one to another…” The KJB reads, “Confess your faults one to another…” We are never to confess our SINS to anyone except God alone (1st Timothy 2:5). The ASV is catering to the Catholics who believe that they must confess their sins to a priest. Of course, this is sheer heresy. We are never to confess our sins to a minister or priest, who are saturated with sins themselves! The Bible tells us to confess our FAULTS to one another, NOT sins. A fault may be coming to work cranky or perhaps lacking understanding when under pressure. We all have faults. Ephesians 4:30-32 commands us to be “kind, tenderhearted and forgiving to one another.” We should be nice to people, but don’t disclose anything which could come back to haunt you. We should let people know that we have feet of clay, but never show anyone your feet! Only God needs to know our sins, not man.

Colossians 1:14 contains a vicious attack on the blood of Christ, it is REMOVED completely. The ASV reads, “in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.” However, the KJB reads, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” Did you see that phrase “THROUGH HIS BLOOD” that they removed? How wicked for anyone to diminish and corrupt the Word of God. All modern translations woefully attack Christ’s deity and the blood of Christ.

Acts 12:4 contains heresy in the ASV. The ASV reads, “…intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people…” The KJB reads correctly, “…intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” Which is it, Passover or Easter? Passover is a sacred holyday, instituted by God for Israel. Easter is a pagan festival. They both cannot be correct! The King James Bible is very accurate. Notice in Acts 12:2 that is was already the “days of unleavened bread.” Leviticus 23:5,6 clearly teaches that the Passover day fell upon the 14th day of the first month. The feast of unleavened bread began on the 15th day of the first month. So there is no way Acts 12:4 could be the Passover if the days of unleavened bread were already taking place in Acts 12:2. The King James Translators knew what they were doing.

1st Timothy 3:16 in the ASV reads, “…He who was manifested in the flesh…” The KJB correctly reads, “…God was manifest in the flesh...” Why would anyone removed “God” to be replaced with “He.” This Scripture directly teaches that God became flesh in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. The NIV is even worse, reducing this precious Scripture down to “…He was revealed in a body…” It is sacrilegious blasphemy!

Philippians 2:6 should be sufficient in itself to make you mad enough to burn your American Standard Version. The ASV reads a shocking, “who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped.” So the ASV says that Jesus couldn’t grasp being equal with God. Let’s look at the King James Bible which reads, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Big difference huh! Jesus was equal with God in every way because He is Almighty God. The ASV (as well as ALL modern translations) attacks Christ’s deity in numerous places. The ASV may not be as bad as the NIV, but they were BOTH cut from the SAME cloth (i.e., the same corrupt Greek text). Danger!

John 1:3 has a subtle, but detrimental change. The ASV reads, “All things were made through him…” The KJB reads, “All things were made by him…” It may not seem like a big deal unless you understand that the Jehovah Witnesses (and other false religions) don’t believe that Jesus created the world in His own power. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is as omnipotent (i.e., all powerful) as God the Father, for He is God the Father (Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 2:9; Revelation 1:8). Jesus solely created the universe. All the power of the Holy Spirit belongs to Christ (John 3:34). So God didn’t create anything “through” Jesus; but rather, ALL THINGS were made “BY” Jesus, Who is Almighty God.

2nd Timothy 2:15 in the ASV reads, “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God…” The KJB reads, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” The word “study” is much more direct and clear than to simply say “give diligence.” Of all the bible versions sold on the market today, only the King James commands us to STUDY! Of course, greedy heretics don’t want you to study your Bible. For centuries, Catholics have been discouraged from studying the Bible. The Vatican wants you to be stupid enough to allow your priest to fill your head with vain traditions and lies of the devil. You had better study! Jesus commanded us in John 5:39…SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! Of course, if you have an ASV then you have no command to study do you?

There are many, many more problems with the ASV, I hope you will throw away your counterfeit bible and use only the trustworthy King James Bible. Also, the New King James Version is horrible, don’t use it.